KAMPALA- This time it is for real. There won’t be another postponement of the local basketball awards ceremony.

“It will take place on Saturday, February 8th at Imperial Royale Hotel,” Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) vice-president (administration) Patrick Egwel said in a press statement last evening. The event, held annually to reward the best performing players and teams, has been postponed more than twice and many in the fraternity had started questioning whether it would actually take place since the league ended way back in December.

“We’ll have our annual general assembly at Kati Kati early in the day and then head for the dinner in the evening,” Egwel said, adding that NBS and Urban TV will, for the very first time, broadcast the awards live. NBS also televised some games last season.

Rwandan Kami Kabange, who stood out as City Oilers lifted the men’s topflight title in their debut season is expected to rival teammate Jimmy Enabu for the Play-offs MVP award.

UCU Canons’ Suudi Ulanga could give the Oilers duo a fight for the regular season gong. UCU Lady Canons teammates Peace Proscovia and Maureen Amoding are the front runners for the women’s Play-offs MVP award but must fight off KCC Leopards’ Claire Lamuno for the regular season accolade. The awards ceremony though comes at a time the fraternity is mourning the passing of coach Thomas ‘Smatts’ Olumbo.

The Kenyan, the architect behind Falcons’ last title in 2007, died Saturday in Nairobi. Olumbo, who had been in and out of hospital for the past two years, also handled the Kenyan women’s national team.